Shoppers might be looking for store brands to save in a down economy. Milk, chips, cheese, beer. Beer?

Yep. Starting this week, you can stock up on your favorite flavor of Pig Swig – Piggly Wiggly’s new private-label beer. Check out a light summer Pig Pen Pilsner with a blue label or a Pig Tail Ale with a red label if you lean toward a malty taste. Both labels feature a swine swilling a frosty cold one. (Actually, it looks like he’s already downed it and is licking his little piggy lips.) “We’re really excited about the product,” Piggly Wiggly spokesman Christopher Ibsen said from his office at the chain’s Charleston headquarters. “Obviously, folks love The Pig and we thought it’s just a fun way to have a product that’s unique to our stores.”

The Swig is brewed at Greenville’s Thomas Creek Brewery, one of several in-state breweries the chain considered. “We’re especially proud it’s a South Carolina-certified product,” Ibsen said. Several store managers around Columbia said they already had started selling six packs of the beer – on sale for $6.99 from the original $7.99 price -- but haven’t heard much customer feedback. The cases have been on shelves and part of Memorial Day displays only a couple of days.

They said they expect the Pigs to start flying off the shelves this weekend as shoppers stock up for the long weekend.

Read the article above written by retailer reporter for "The State," Kristy Eppley Rupon on "The State's" Official website HERE.